Author's Disclaimer: I do not own Super Smash Bros or any of the characters involved in it. I am earning no profit from this story, other than the enjoyment of writing it and sharing it with others! I hope you all enjoy reading it!
The fourth day, nothing of interest happened. Cloud got up and went downstairs for breakfast. Silence blanketed the room when Sephiroth came down, but he just grabbed his things and walked back upstairs, allowing all conversations to resume.
"What a weird guy," Young Link commented. But that was all that was said about it.
After breakfast, Cloud played darts with Young Link. They played until dinner. It was pretty boring, but neither of them had any better ideas.
And finally, the day after that, Link and Zelda were let out. Young Link and Cloud had been in the main room playing darts when Master Hand made the announcement that both the knight and the princess were now released from their torture. Young Link dropped his dart and practically ran upstairs. Cloud followed after him calmly.
He got about halfway up the stairs when he felt Sephiroth pressing into his mind. Wait.
"Get out of my head!" He leaned against the staircase wall, pressing his fingers against his forehead.
I only have a question. Have a little patience, Sephiroth chided.
Mewtwo entered Cloud's head too, the Pokemon pushing against the one-winged angel to no avail. Cloud sunk to his knees as the two telepaths battled with the confines of his mind. He wished he could help Mewtwo, but his powerset did not involve telepathy. He grit his teeth and lowered his head into his hands, the two of them sending waves of pain crashing through his mind.
Tell your weak assistant to get out if you wish the pain to end, Sephiroth suggested.
"M-Mewtwo...stop…" Cloud muttered.
Mewtwo let up. I am only trying to help.
"It isn't working," Cloud said dryly, holding his head up as the assault stopped.
Mewtwo terminated the connection, though Cloud felt irritation leak through just before he ended it.
Much better, Sephiroth said. I only wanted to ask how to check on the two injured fighters.
"I'm not telling you," Cloud spit. Though Master Hand had just said it out loud. Had Sephiroth not been paying attention? "Why would you care?"
You promised that the glove's punishment was worse than I could possibly imagine. Well, I wanted to see if you were right. How did a Hero of Hyrule fare after such treatment?
"Oh, so you know who Link is. Who have you been talking to?"
Nobody. I don't have to. Not when your memories are such a useful source of information, Sephiroth replied.
Cloud grit his teeth. Sephiroth was just stealing information from his head. No wonder he wasn't talking to anyone. He had all the information he needed straight from Cloud himself.
Back to my question. Tell me, and I'll make the trip myself. Keep quiet, and I'll watch through your eyes.
"You'll get in trouble for possessing me."
I won't possess you. This connection we have here is sufficient. I can see everything you're seeing, but you still have your free will, don't you?
Cloud raised and lowered his arm, but felt no resistance to the simple action.
What a good puppet you are.
Cloud clenched his fists. "Fine. I'll tell you. Just go to his room, it's the one right next to yours. I'm coming up there." He had been going to visit Zelda first, but with Sephiroth heading to Link's room he figured he should back his friends up. Sephiroth just wanted to see how badly Link was suffering. He wanted to know if he himself could handle the kind of torture that awaited him in the torture room. What did he have planned? Something dangerous, evidently.
Cloud started back up the stairs, picking up his pace to almost a run. He got to the third floor and ran down the hall, hearing people talking nervously in Link's room. He paused outside the doorway, listening to what was going on.
"Why are you here?" Palutena demanded.
"Calm yourself, goddess," Sephiroth replied. "I cannot harm you. Neither do I wish to."
"Then why are you here?" Shulk repeated.
Cloud stepped into the room, deciding that these proceedings were leading nowhere good. He took in everyone's positions and stances, glaring at Sephiroth. Shulk and Palutena were up here. The others were probably in Zelda's room. They were standing on one side of the room, their weapons drawn and their expressions taught. Sephiroth was standing on the other side of the room, his arms crossed over his chest and Masamune resting patiently in its sheath. Link was sitting in his bed, his complexion pale, his eyes staring at Sephiroth with something between absolute loathing and unspeakable horror.
But when Cloud stepped in, the tension broke. Shulk relaxed somewhat, seeing that Sephiroth's main adversary was uninjured. Link's eyes landed on Cloud, and his tense muscles slackened.
"C-Cloud?" he stammered, his tone suggesting disbelief.
"...Yes?" Cloud replied. Why would the hero care about him? Wouldn't he have seen Zelda or the other Links in the torture room?
"You're...you're…" he couldn't seem to finish the sentence. He glanced at Sephiroth, shaking his head. "I thought I killed you. I saw...I saw...so many times…"
"Watch it," Shulk said, nodding to Sephiroth. "Don't say too much."
"Why keep it secret?" Sephiroth demanded.
"It's a rule," Cloud replied evenly.
Link nodded shakily. "B-but I…" He shook his head. "This cannot be real. It...it...you're dead."
"I'm fine," Cloud promised.
Link shook his head vehemently. "This is not real. I know it is not. You cannot fool me, Master Hand."
Sephiroth turned around and left the room, evidently having gathered all the information he needed.
Shulk closed the door behind him.
"You're done, Link, you're out of there," Palutena promised him. "Cloud is not dead, he's been just fine for a few days now."
"I shot him," Link argued. "In the lung. I watched him bleed. I watched him die. Do not lie to me."
"Link, listen to yourself," Cloud said. "I'm not dead. Robin got me a potion. I'm fine."
"Potions cannot heal punctured lungs."
Cloud walked across the room. Link recoiled. "Stay away from me," he said, his jaw clenched. "Do not get any closer."
"What? If I'm dead, why are you so afraid?"
"Link, you are out of there," Shulk went on. "Your punishment is over. You're free. This is real. Master Hand fed you lies in there. Cloud isn't dead."
Link stared at Cloud intensely. He drew his sword, resting it in his right hand. "Give me your hand," he commanded. "If you hurt me, I will kill you again." He held out his left hand. Cloud took it, letting the hero press his fingers against Cloud's wrist and feel his pulse. For a long moment, he just sat there, the Master Sword poised to attack, but it remained motionless. Link did not raise his blade.
Eventually, it fell from his grasp and he took Cloud's hand with both of his own. He leaned his head against Cloud's chest and his shoulders shook violently. "T-this is real," he breathed. "This is real."
"Told you," Cloud said dryly, pulling his hand free.
Link shook his head slowly, leaning off Cloud and wiping his eyes. "I...I owe you an apology."
"Save it. We were all doing what we thought was best."
"I should have listened to Shulk."
"Everyone makes mistakes," Palutena said. "It's alright."
"I'm fine now," Cloud said. "Needed a few days of bed rest, but I'm alright."
Link glanced at the wound that was still exposed on Cloud's chest. He didn't really have anything else to wear, so he'd just been continuing to put on his usual outfit, despite its gaping hole and the scar that rested underneath it. "You recovered quickly. Did the arrow miss your lung?"
"No, he got a punctured lung all right," Shulk replied. "But we owe his fast recovery to Jenova."
"Jenova?" Link repeated. He shook his head. "Well, I do not care whatever means you used to get better. I am only glad that you did."
Cloud nodded.
"How many times did you watch him die?" Palutena asked.
"...Multiple times. I had other visions, of course, but Cloud was never in any of them. I either watched him die, or he was not there. Which left me with one conclusion; he was dead."
"Well, I'm not," Cloud said with finality. "Are you alright now?"
Link nodded firmly. "Quite. Uh, where is Zelda?"
"In her room. She just got out," Shulk answered.
"I need to speak with her," Link said, moving to stand up.
"Drink this first," Palutena commanded, handing him a potion. He took the bottle and downed its contents, sighing in relief when his injuries healed themselves. Then he led the way down the hall and down the stairs to Zelda's room. She wasn't faring nearly as well. Link stepped into the room, Cloud just behind him, and the two of them shared a glance.
Zelda was in her bed, her hands shaking, magic sparking between her fingertips nervously. Toon Link and Young Link were trying in vain to reason with her. "You're out of there," Young Link promised. "You're done. It's over. You're free. Nobody's going to hurt you."
Zelda seemed unable to believe him. She kept her mouth shut. She kept blinking her eyes as though she was trying not to cry.
Link's hard expression softened. "Zelda...it is alright."
She locked eyes with him, her expression faltering. She pulled her shaking fingers into fists and the sparks of magic quickly grew into flames. "Y-you!"
Link froze. "...Me?" he replied.
"Don't say a word! Not after what you did to me!" she screamed, throwing her covers off herself.
Link tensed, his sword coming free from its sheath. His trust was faltering. Despite Cloud's assurances, he was no longer certain that he was free from the torture room.
"Link, don't do it," Shulk said, grabbing his arm.
"Zelda, stop!" Toon Link cried, pulling at her dress.
The two stood opposite each other, breathing hard. Zelda's eyes burned with anger and the sick light of revenge. Link's face had fear etched all over it.
"Both of you, cut it out!" Palutena cried.
"You know what you did!" Zelda cried, shaking her hands free of the flames and pointing a finger at Link's chest.
"I assure you, I have no idea," Link replied, almost nervously. His weapons were drawn, but he did not raise them. He took a step back, tensing when he found himself against a wall.
Palutena grabbed Zelda's shoulders and pulled her away from the Champion. "Zelda, calm yourself. Link didn't do anything. You're out of there. Look how confused he is. You're hurting him. Do you want to hurt him?"
Her shoulders shuddered. "Y-yes! I do!"
"What did you see in there?" Young Link cried, tugging the Master Sword out of Link's grasp.
"Please don't be angry, Zelda," Toon Link whispered, leaning against her waist.
Zelda struggled against Palutena's grip, but the princess was no match for the goddess. She continued to thrash for a moment or two, and Link watched with anxiety on his face. He didn't reach for his weapon, and even willingly let Young Link take it, but it was clear he was scared. They'd both been through too much over the past five days.
"Zelda, you must listen to me," Link began desperately. "You are out of there. We...we are both out of there."
"Not a word," she muttered. "You know what you did."
"Zelda, I have no idea what you think I did!" Link exclaimed, his tone approaching exasperation. "But do you know what I do know?"
She just glared at him.
"I know that I must always have hope," Link went on. "Certainly you remember when we discussed that several weeks ago? You came upstairs to my room, knowing somehow that I was upset, and we talked."
The anger in Zelda's eyes flickered, but she didn't back down quite yet. "Why...yes. Yes, I do remember."
"You told me that I cannot lose hope. Despite my insistence that hope does not win battles, you taught me that it can sometimes give us something to fight for. A lesson I have kept in mind ever since. Can you do the same for me now?"
For a moment, awkward silence reigned the room. Young Link kept the Master Sword in his hands. Palutena kept her grip on Zelda's shoulders. Toon Link hugged her waist even tighter, though his eyes were on Link. Cloud leaned against the wall, trusting the knight's words. So that was what Zelda told him that night. Cloud had been wondering.
Then Zelda sighed heavily. "I...I can. I'm sorry, Link. I just…" she trailed off. "Nevermind." She took his hand, and he didn't neglect the physical contact. "I'm glad you're alright."
Link nodded. "The feeling is mutual."
Pit cleared his throat, gesturing for everyone to leave the room. Palutena nodded, following her angel out of Zelda's room and back down the hall. Cloud followed after them, pleased that his little hint had ended up furthering their relationship so greatly.
"Oh no, we haven't got anything private going on!" Zelda laughed, her face burning red. "In fact, I'm feeling quite hungry. Why don't we all go on downstairs? After...however long that was, I'm quite famished."
"Five days," Young Link supplied. "It's been five days."
"Felt like an eternity," Link said.
Zelda nodded slowly.
"Well, come on! Let's go get something to eat!" Pit said excitedly.
Zelda chuckled softly. "I have no doubt I'm free now, Pit."
They walked back downstairs and Pit made his way to the refrigerator, picking out food for himself and the two Hylians. Cloud decided they were both fine and cast his gaze about the room, looking for Mewtwo. He spotted the Pokemon in the corner, sitting instead of standing, running a hand across his forehead.
"You alright?" Cloud asked, approaching him.
Mewtwo looked up. I am now. My efforts were yet again in vain.
Cloud shrugged. "Sephiroth is powerful. It isn't your fault."
I still feel obligated to apologize. I cannot help you.
"Nobody can," Cloud replied. "It's nothing personal."
Mewtwo laughed softly. I suppose.
"But you're alright?" Cloud asked again. "He didn't hurt you?"
He has no interest in hurting me.
"Any idea what he's planning? I'm sure he's up to something."
None, unfortunately. All I know is that he is, in fact, biding his time. His mind works constantly at a puzzle that he believes to be solvable. I would suggest talking to him, Cloud Strife.
"He won't want to talk to me."
On the contrary, you're the only one here he would want to talk to.
"No, he wouldn't. He just takes whatever information he needs straight from my head, he doesn't talk to me."
Actually, he only gets some of his information from you. Yes, I sensed him in your mind last night. And I was going to mention it, but you had enough going on today with the Hero of the Wild and Zelda Hyrule. But Sephiroth has also been speaking with Ganondorf Dragmire, of course. Though their conversations have been strained. The Gerudo King admires your one-winged angel. But Sephiroth is now uninterested in him.
"Why?"
"Who are we talking about?" Young Link questioned, coming to stand at Cloud's side. "It's really irritating only listening to one half of the conversation."
"Nobody asked you to come over here and eavesdrop."
"Hey, I'm getting tired of all the lovey-dovey stuff that's going on over there," Young Link shrugged. "Link and Zelda are just staring tiredly into each other's eyes. Yuck."
Cloud shook his head in amusement. "Maybe you'll get it someday, kid."
Young Link stuck out his tongue. "Whatever. I'm sure you and Mewtwo were discussing something much more important than that."
"We were. Sephiroth and Ganondorf have been talking."
"Of course they have."
Sephiroth lost his respect for the King of Thieves when Ganondorf admitted that he lost to Young Link, a child. Sephiroth sees him as weak. Nobody else has even dared to approach him.
Cloud nodded, relaying the information to Young Link, who crossed his arms over his chest. "I should feel insulted," he admitted. "But if my status as little means that our villains aren't teaming up, I'll take it."
"So anyway, Mewtwo, you said that he would want to talk to me."
Of course. He respects you, Cloud Strife, at least somewhat. He dislikes you, certainly, but he recognizes your power, seeing as you have killed him not once but twice. Were you to bring up our escape plan, he just might listen.
"I'll talk to Zelda about it," Cloud promised. "But you really don't know what he's planning by himself?"
Mewtwo shook his head.
"We'll have to figure it out then," Young Link said thoughtfully.
"Hey! What're you three loners doing over there?" Pit called to Cloud and Young Link. Everyone else was seated around a cake. Why there was cake in the refrigerator tonight, Cloud didn't know. But Young Link eagerly abandoned their conversation in favor of dessert, and Cloud just shrugged.
He clapped Mewtwo on the shoulder. "I'm glad you're alright. Don't do that again, though. It only hurts both of us."
Mewtwo nodded. Understood.
"Want any cake?"
Mewtwo shook his head.
"Suit yourself." Cloud walked back over to everyone else and took a seat next to Link. The Champion seemed to be doing much better now that he'd had something to eat. Color had returned to his skin and he was eagerly stuffing himself with as much cake as he could get his hands on. Five days without food was quite a while. Cake probably wasn't the best thing to restock himself on, but Cloud wasn't about to argue.
Young Link hadn't been lying about the lovey-dovey dynamic, however. Link and Zelda were in fact staring at each other. Shulk and Palutena were whispering about it, Pit was perfectly oblivious, and Robin shot Cloud a raised eyebrow. Young Link feigned gagging and Toon Link just about slapped him. Cloud ate his cake calmly, feeling somewhere between happy and jealous for the two of them.
After only a few more minutes, Zelda excused herself from the table. Link volunteered to walk her to her room, and the two made their way upstairs alone.
"They're in love!" Toon Link declared excitedly the moment they were out of earshot.
"Ugh, what are they thinking?" Young Link demanded. "It won't last."
"You don't know that!" Pit exclaimed. "Maybe it will!"
"They live, quite literally, in different worlds," Young Link pointed out. "Their love is doomed."
"Don't be like that," Palutena chided. "Let them be happy for now. We can think about that later."
"Goodness knows Link could use a little happiness," Shulk admitted.
"We all could," Robin added. "They're happy. We should be too."
"Do you think they'll kiss tonight?" Toon Link questioned.
Young Link rolled his eyes. "They're just figuring out their feelings. It doesn't go that fast."
"But it can," Shulk argued.
"What do you know about it?" Palutena questioned.
Shulk's face burned red. "W-well, all I'm saying is that sometimes, you know, you just… You've been living with someone for a long, long time, and then one day you wake up and you realize...they mean everything to you. Sometimes you don't realize it until they're gone, but I think Link and Zelda are figuring it out right now, before it's too late."
"Sometimes it just clicks," Cloud shrugged. He'd seen it with the way Marlene and Denzel cared so deeply for each other. It wasn't romantic love, not yet, and maybe it never would be, but it was a deep familial bond that shouldn't exist between two children that had barely known each other for six months when Cloud got taken. "Sometimes the pieces just fall right into place, and no matter how different you two are, sometimes it doesn't matter."
"You mean Aerith?" Pit asked.
Palutena elbowed him.
"Hey!"
Cloud hadn't. He'd been thinking about his kids. But hearing the flower girl's name made his tentative contentment diminish quickly.
"I'm tired," Young Link decided, maybe not wanting to hear anymore about love or maybe not wanting to watch Cloud break down yet again.
Everyone else almost immediately agreed. Palutena basically dragged Pit upstairs, muttering to him the whole way. Cloud walked upstairs, shaking his head. No. He wouldn't be sad tonight. Link and Zelda were out of the torture room. Planning could continue. In less than three weeks, the office raid would commence. And then the next day, the attack on Master Hand and Crazy Hand would happen. And from there...not even Shulk knew what would happen. But things were starting to look up. Cloud would not be sad tonight.
He went back upstairs to his room and went about getting ready for bed. He shrugged his sword off his back and changed into his night clothes. He brushed his hair, brushed his teeth, and started unmaking his bed.
A knock on his door interrupted him. He opened it, and was admittedly surprised to see Zelda standing there. "...Need something?"
She shook her head, leaning against the door frame as though she was dazed. Her eyes were looking beyond Cloud and at something only she could see, and a soft grin was planted on her face. "Uh, I just wanted to say thank you."
"For?"
"That night. When you told me he was upset."
"It was nothing."
"It was everything, Cloud. Trust me. So thank you."
Cloud nodded. "You're welcome." He moved to close the door.
Zelda took his hand. "And I wanted to say that I'm sorry."
Cloud paused. She tightened her grip on his hand. "I've never been in love," she admitted. "Until now. And it...it's wonderful. Thank you for giving us that. But I'm sorry that you lost it."
Cloud stared at the floor. "It's fine. I'm over it. Go on to bed."
Sensing that she was just about to overstep her boundaries, Zelda let him go. "Okay. Maybe you'll find it again someday. I sure hope so."
"Go to bed, Zelda." He shut the door in her face, his muscles tense, his fingers pulling into fists. Being in love...it had been wonderful. Yet he had indeed lost it. And it had hurt. Cloud leaned his head back, staring at the ceiling. It had hurt.
He thought back to what Young Link had said. Link and Zelda's love was doomed. Cloud shook his head. It was also none of his business. He climbed into bed and fell asleep.